RAFAEL BENITEZ admits Liverpool will be “losing a legend” when Sami Hyypia brings his Anfield career to a close on Sunday.

Hyypia will leave the club in the summer on a free transfer after agreeing a two-year deal with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

Irrespective of whether he makes an appearance on the pitch against Tottenham at the weekend, the 35-year-old Finland international is certain to be given an emotional send-off by an appreciative home support.

And Benitez said: “I think Liverpool are losing a legend. For years he has been so good. He has scored important goals and has been very, very good in defence. Clearly we are losing an important player.

“He will get a fantastic reception from the fans. They are amazing and they recognise when someone has been a very good servant to the club.

“He is a fantastic professional and a very good person, and the fans know this.

“It’s good as a manager that, when you have a player with his name and experience, he still wants to learn. I have been really pleased working with him.”

Hyypia’s departure is expected to be one of several from Anfield in the summer as Benitez prepares his squad for another title challenge next season.

Jermaine Pennant will also leave on a free transfer, while Andriy Voronin is hopeful of making this season’s loan at Hertha Berlin a permanent deal.

Benitez has started to generate cash from his squad by agreeing deal for defender Jack Hobbs to stay at Leicester City while Paul Anderson is poised to join Swansea City for a six-figure fee.

Meanwhile, Kenny Dalglish believes the Liverpool stars who pushed United all the way in the title race will march into next season “full of belief”.

Anfield legend Dalglish was the last Liverpool manager to win the title 19 years ago, and when he quit his post the club were lording it over United. Times have changed, and Sir Alex Ferguson’s men have now equalled Liverpool’s record of 18 league titles.

But Dalglish considers that Liverpool under Rafael Benitez can stop United taking the lead next term with a 19th crown.

“I just hope Rafa can build on the good work that he has achieved this season,” he said. “Obviously we would love to be in Manchester United’s position, everybody would. But we have got a lot closer this season than we have got in previous years and that is very important.

“It will give them great belief now when they go into next season – with one or two changes, obviously.

“There is always expectation, but I believe that this time it will be justified.”

Liverpool will be runners-up if they take one point from Sunday’s final game at home to Spurs, although it would take a remarkable turnaround on goal difference for Chelsea to overtake them now.

Dalglish said: “There is a lot more positivity at the end of this season than there has been in many previously.

“Rafa signing his contract, Stevie Gerrard agreeing to stay, Fernando Torres agreeing to stay and Dirk Kuyt also signing a new contract.

“All that is brilliant. And now we have the two Americans (owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks) working more closely together. All that is very positive.

“And out on the pitch things have improved. Liverpool’s performances against the other members of the top four has been brilliant. They haven’t lost to any of them with Arsenal the only club to take points off Liverpool from that group.

“There is a lot to look forward, and things are far more positive now than they have been.”

He added: “The good thing was that the club sorted out Rafa’s future very quickly, that was very important.”